Lynyrd Skynyrd 'Freebird' Movie Announced

Shannon Mages

News

Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Blackbird Productions

In 1977 a tragic plane crash killed three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Now the story of this iconic American band and
the crash will be told as through the eyes of the band’s drummer, Artimus Pyle,
named after the classic ballad “Free Bird.”

Pyle was one of the few survivors
from the plane crash. He helped pull additional people to safety, but
unfortunately lost frontman Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and backup
singer Cassie Gaines. In an exclusive with Deadline, Pyle said:

“When that plane crashed, we were
at the top of the world man. I mean, we could play with any band — any band,
whether it was the Rolling Stones, anyone, and we would hold our own or better.
I think of that accident every day and what we might have accomplished if we’d
have ten more years. But I’m very proud of the band; I love the music and I
love playing it still.”

Cleopatra Films will be working with Pyle to bring this story to life. Pyle is also co-writing the script with
Jared Cohn, who will be directing too. According to Pyle:

"We
want this to be a good movie that tells a very passionate, intimate story about
the music and the band and a rise and fall that happened so suddenly. I want
the movie to portray my band members the way they were: real, funny people who
loved the music, loved the success that allowed us to be able to travel the
world and play for kings and queens all over this planet. Of course, there is
the tragedy, us being on this airplane that ran out of fuel after a performance
in Greenville South Carolina that became the last place Ronnie Van Zant ever
sang 'Free
Bird'. It’s incredibly
personal and passionate to me and I want the movie going public to be able to
share the laughs and the tears."

Shooting for the film is planned
for later this year. Due to disputes over the band’s legacy, they are still
trying to obtain rights to include some of the band’s music. Pyle will also be
contributing his own recordings as well.